Monday, August 26, 2013

continuation, opposition, contradiction, violation, mutilation, of my opinion and a short review of how I feel.

After the kudos for Lauretta Allabons organisation in the previous post,
I do find some things that I would have felt would have make things better, hopefully next time for the rest of the fans, for myself I am happy and as I am not going to buy a Metallica tshirt that night, I got a Pen A ticket early, I catch the bus that reach Expo on time to transfer to Tanah Merah etc etc, but it could be improve for the fans like these below..

- the merchandise store should be in the same area as the show itself, and they should open a few more lots, Lauretta Allabons and gang would have enough experience attending huge overseas shows.
- Scrap Pen B. WHY OH WHY DOES PEN B EXIST?? YES ITS STILL CLOSE BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH!. My heart goes out to those in Pen B. I think Singapore are lucky to avoid all these caste class pricing segregation nonsense but from now on just scrap Pen B completely, make it all a Free Standing One Price Ticket once and for all. Just balance up the price ticket fairly or something.Just ensure enough comfortable yet proper safety barriers are placed at strategic locations especially the middle sections as its the most congested and to prevent any incidents or accidents, but still people are free to move about easily at the sides.With this one price ticket, its fair for everyone, NO DISCRIMATION after all we're all fans and ffs its heavy rock music!!, the crazy ones can packed all they want right in front and exchange sweat and body odour with each other, while the rest can just enjoy the show from a calmer view at the sides or back.- With all the transport complains, maybe some Singapore fans (and organisers) are not ready for huge festivals like Soundwave or Donington Park held in the middle of nowhere or "tempat jin bertendang".
- But Changi exhibition is beside the sea, its so cooling once the sea-breeze blows inwards and with all the aeroplanes in sight.

ok Metallica....- So where should I stand? And Hungry.kind of funny, having some food at the back, and keeping the ears open for ACDC "its a long way to the top" cue tape.- No Harvester Of Sorrow, but we got Shortest Straw.- No fight fire with fire or Damage Inc, but we got Battery.- dot dot dot and Justice For All played. (I remember reading that the three dots are very critical, never forget it haha). This is not an easy song, I sometimes find this song turgid, but if its played live, and you're there, this song is a marvel. And this song means more Metallica time on stage,I do find how the best rock bands like Metallica or Iron Maiden makes use of their own intro tapes for certain live songs interesting.- Like I say in the last post, I have not heard many of the songs for a long time, but, I think its a testament to how much Metallica means to me in my growing up years thatI can recall the lyrics, and very confidently having a loud lunatic sing along for most of the songs chorus and even the verses.The weird thing is, they play a new song from Death Magnetic that I dont know at all and cant even give the title, and the young Chinese guy near me know the words. HAHA. Now that is something. Metallica's future is secured with their younger fans.ok, some videos, Memory Remain's ending was awesome with the fans not stopping till the next song. Reminds me of Blind Guardian's Valhalla live ending moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDBtbVFNoNUI think this is one of the highlight of the night. Luckily I got it on video for me to remember something by till the soundboard comes out which I want one, as my bootleg was corrupted and sabotaged by myself haha.Another highlight was Blackened. I think after all these years, maybe ...and Justice For All album is the album that aged the best. I got to revisit this cd. And I got to check out ...and Justice For Newsted fans remix too. I may have forget the track sequence, but if I think about it, the songs from this album got replayed in my mind and they sounds fresh.I know Blackened is part of the fixed portion of the set, so I got my handphone ready from the start to the finish and to the jam, and to Kirk's doodle before Nothing Else Matter.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvm0NHe3oVMIs this true? When you do neck and head exercise, your hold on your handphone gets very shaky. muaahahahaha.Lastly, Love the Metallica's choreography especially James Hetfield...His coolest ones were the frozen ending of Sanitarium and the camera zoom in for ending of Nothing Else Matters with the tattoos on his knuckles, flips of his guitar pick and going into Enter Sandman.Those are really cool gimmicks.What else?Ok, lets see how Belinda Carlisle is going to outperform Metallica.Song by song comparison, its going to be a thriller.fade to black vs little black bookI think I'll flip a coin haha.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Anvil short review is in red further below, the rest of the text is just some observations of the whole event and organisation. Metallica I talked a bit till next time in this colour at the bottom.

2013 has been a year of firsts because I finally I got to see bands like UFO, Motorhead, Alice In Chains, etc etc and surprisingly Anvil.

Seeing Anvil is certainly another one of those once in a lifetime occasion, its really a wicked surprise to announce them just few days before the Metallica show.

Firstly, kudos to Lauretta Alabbon, I cannot find any fault at all with the whole organisation for the Metallica show.

-I think lots of money has been spent on the whole organisation of the show, they even occupy the whole Hall 3B Expo to cater to those travelling by the 'advanced book' bus service.

- I notice they employed quite a lot of support staffs from even at Expo itself.

-I notice the taxi queue at Expo with lots of those wearing Metallica tshirts, I think the organisers are strict with the "tickets only" for the bus service.

-Pleasant surprise,a headcount done to ensure everyone has a seat on the buses. NOW, THAT IS CLASS!!. I'm sure all these catering to the expats/foreign visitors/tourists/ do have a nice benefit to the locals.

-Reaching Changi Exhibition Site, and I realise, FUCK there will be no PYROS!! The airplanes are landing and taking off at quite a distance but I dont think they will allow all these fireworks, or maybe its just Metallica not bringing Pyros for Asia?

-So a friend I went with wants to look for the merch, and then seems I hear BADASS ROCK N ROLL? so I called my another friend who came earlier and he said " ANVIL HAD STARTED!!

The guitar solo with the Vibrator is performed. I quickly took out my handphone to record it.

I recorded the show on audio as usual, but unfortunately I missed the first two songs at least.

So this is the vibrator solo for Singapore haha.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vKIoV0WT98

Got to hear Anvil count in "one two one two fuck you"Anvil changed the lyrics for Mothra to " IN THE LAND OF SINGAPORE, LIVES A MIGHTY MONSTER CALLED MOTHRA!!"cool.Also the guitarist/singer introduced the drummer as his best friend in the world or something.this is another one I videoded (yes I know broken english),its the last part of Winged Assassins and start of On Fire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-XOVo6KB2k

If it has been any other band playing after Anvil, then Anvil could have killed the following band, but then its Metallica.Still I think Anvil has won over a lot of fans in Singapore. Good for them.Metallica I will talk cock about it later, or tomorrow...ok, roll the bootleg, really rubbish with me having a lunatic karaoke session and moving about, but not to worry, I hope there is the soundboard out soon.....Anyway, how easy the lyrics are recalled and confidently sing alound, even some of these songs I have not heard for many years.Metallica's setlist for Singapore 2013 was...1. Hit The Lights2. Master Of Puppets3. Shortest Straw (SURPRISE!!!yes!yes!yes!yes!)4. Ride The Lightning5. Fade To Black6. Memory Remains (infinity ending haha)7. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS THIS SONG. I think its CYANIDE?8. Welcome Home Sanitarium9. Sad But True10. ...and Justice For All (HIPHIPHORRAAYY!!)11. One12. For Whom The Bell Tolls13. Blackened and jam14. Nothing Else Matters15. Enter Sandman16. Creeping Death17. Battery18. Seek And Destroy and I dont know what happen next thing because we left during this song, rush for the bus, and then the last MRT to leave Expo for Tanah Merah haha.If Metallica and Anvil had done a special encore together I wont know. But boleh la, korang semua hari minggu tak yah kerja!!! haha.Somewhere in there Kirk Hammett doddle Iron Maiden's Where Eagles Dare.

Moving on and keeping still to the topic of providing comfort to the less able and people with physical handicap, lets move from mosques to something else....When you have passion, it doesn't matter who you are, and what is your physical condition.

Aku tengok reaksi dia kat lagu Run To The Hills ni, aku rasa dia cam nak terbang...that guy on the wheelchair is Like a Superman getting ready to take off. Seeing his enthusiasm he could be as hardcore as anyone in that 100,000 people.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

while waiting for reviews and updates from those attending the Metallica show in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia tonight. I want to say how pleasantly surprised I am with the late news for this Saturday's Metallica show in Singapore.

I got an SMS from a friend late morning just now sayingANVIL is opening for Metallica in Singapore.
With just about 3 days away, and this amazing news coming in now, got me excited.

I was just thinking ok I am going to see Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett in all their MTV rock stars glory, but now with Anvil in the mix, its going to even be more fun.
I always think Metallica is a three member band now, but I guess that's just me.

Nothing is going to steal Metallica's thunder this Saturday, but I am sure Anvil making their way to Singapore will be treasured and loudly cheered on by the gathered masses at Changi sea coastline.
I dont think any opening band will get a better response than Anvil. This band is legendary, its just I guess many people ignore them before."that" documentary helps them a lot.
My most important concern, Is there enough time for Anvil do perform their guitar solo segment? The most awesome guitar solo ever haha.

ok, with reference to the title of this posting.Metallica versus Belinda- its going to be competitive..and like the tickets printed - its going to be free-standing, where everyone, I mean everyone, stand together as one and not partitioned with some ridiculous staggered pricing where the fans that may really mattered may end up at the back. (Look, for example , I love Bon Jovi, but seeing them play Villa Park Stadium and I cant afford the Diamond ticket really hurts haha, but well thats Bon Jovi but isnt Metallica suppose to be a heavy rock band? with their gung-ho fans deservely in front?).Or maybe its just me having this mentality.Metallica this Saturday and Belinda Carlisle following quite soon....

ok for those who have no access to the Iron Maiden fanclub magazine number 95, this is some of the content.Its not a fun-filled edition really. A bit sad magazine this one. With the passing of the one and only Clive Burr and also Steve Gadd.
One the drummer for the first 3 albums and Nicko came in to replace him, The other, long time Nicko friend, and who then became Nicko drum tech, and then Maiden's tour manager.
So here are the write-ups by Laz (fc guy) and Nicko.
Interesting, informative, yet solemn reading.

Some questions for Adrian Smith which are interesting.

Other articles are
-a great write up on the research, making, and stories of the Trooper Beer with interviews with Bruce Dickinson. - I dont drink, but it do makes a good reading to read about people's passion and hard work on what they like and also their jobs.
-Also stories interviews with Steve Harris on British Lion tour.

Plus lots of other things..
-the rio samba procession with Eddie floater.
-Ooo one great story is of the Nodding Donkeys secret show back in 1992 by someone who was there, even took photos of it, now this is a good read.

Plus many other good readings on the band and their fans. Always had fun reading about the lucky fans. Also the flashbacks old mags, with Dave Murray wedding photos from around 1985 in black and white...now that is so nice

As usual Many awesome photos..
I always look forward to Nicko in action photos as I look to see what all around him, his drinks etc haha.

And finally, I love this pixie of Dave Murray... I really love this photo, everything about it.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

(If there is a soundtrack for this post, then its Van Halen's "I cant stop loving you".)

First reason I thought of that song and humming it while typing this post is that, ya I know its Hari Raya, but just like the first line of this song " There's a time and place for everything, for everyone".. So got to try to make it for FC BARCELONA , need to find the time to go Bukit Jalil Stadium on this Saturday night, and ooohh training session on Friday too.Secondly yap, the chorus, its for ex- EL CAPTAIN Fabregas, and Song. Never forgetten them, especially Fab4.

So its a rare chance to see Barcelona plays live.

To see close-ups of Messi, Neymar, Valdes, Alves, Pique, Xavi, Iniesta, Song, Fabregas etc etc etc basically the whole team.I am not really a fan of this club, but I think they play the best and most entertaining football besides ARSENAL FC. The only difference is Barca plays well and win trophies. HAHAHAHA!! ( thats a painful laughter may I add ).

Ooo another thing, check out the stored-value card for travelling on Kuala Lumpur's subway with this design. Fancy.The usual stored value card is worth about 12RM with a 10RM value, but this fancy design cost 20RM with the same 10RM value..

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.Finally,..TO ALL MUSLIMS EVERYWHERE, in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Rest Of The World -Happy Eid Fitr, Aidil Fitri, Hari Raya Puasa, Lebaran, or whatever you called it.p.s. World Peace, Arsene Knows and Up The Irons \m/

ok enough eye candy,to all Muslims everywhere, have a Meaningful last week of Ramadhan before the arrival of Aidil Fitri. May all your prayers, your amal, and good and charitable deeds big and small, hidden or exposed in public, be accepted by God.And may Allah protect and bless you and your love ones, alive or already passed away, here and here after. Amin.

2014 Backpacking "Mission (difficult but not) Impossible"

How To Travel To Hellfest, Clisson Nantes France and all the good and bad that comes with it?

Click the above backprint of the tshirt to see how I travel alone to Hellfest without knowing any French using public transportation, choosing to sleep in Nantes nightly, and all the many mistakes that I made, which hurts my budget LOL!!!

My full NINE blog posts on Reviews,Photos,Stories of HELLFEST 2014 with all these TECHNO acts

Click the Maiden England poster above for the still INCOMPLETE report of my backpacking travels to Donington Park Download Festival, Birmingham, London, and Frankfurt to see some really awesome bands in some awesome places with awesome crowds

I try to photograph Maiden in the madhouse environment of their first night in Frankfurt 2013

As the previous tour, the photos I took may not be nice to other peoples eyes, but I love every each of these results, click Steve Harris above for their 2013 in action photos. Sadly not as many as the 200 photos I took of them in action across Australia in 2011.

Scream For Me Donington!!

How did I travel to Donington Park daily by staying at Derby instead of camping.

Click above photo of Iron Maiden headlining on the second day for 2013 festival. Donington Download Festival Logistics is amazing for me, as the crowd can hit near 100,000

Would be nice if Maiden plays South East Asia for this very special Maiden England tour but ....

11 June 2013 Frankfurt Germany

12 June 2013 Frankfurt Germany

15 June 2013 Donington Park UK

xx xx 2013 Malaysia

xx xx 2013 Singapore

It begins with a dream... I dont think I can ever repeat this adventure again

I am so happy with each photo because I have always wondered how its like to capture photos of Maiden on stage and I did it although I am using a cheap, easy to smuggle in, easy to hide from security, small point and shoot camera and trying to stand still in a sea of madness.

its " www.deafeningforever.blogspot.com ". Last updated - 11 April 2011. Or go thru the *labels sections in this same column to check out my previous visits to exhibitions, museums, historical places and zoos. I love these stuffs.

* labels linked to topics I blog before or you can find similar labels at bottom of each blog post.

Where Eagles Dare ( my other websites )

scream for me long beach!

Youtube Channel

Bootlegs of some live shows attended, some frolicking animal show footages & other things...

The latest by me on some topics.

cds, dvds, concerts, merchandise, books, travelling, animals, zoos, nature,photography, leisure, food and everything else is ALL MIXED UP in this blog, these are some of my latest opinions on some of the topics, the rest YOU CAN go thru the labels section above.

A Most Memorable Evening

It took me 25 years as a Maiden fan (83-08) to finally see them live with my better half by my side. Pathetic and embarassing as a loyal fan but I cant afford it before being in the wrong bloody continent. One of the great lessons in life, when you really want something, you have to put in much effort. It may look to be beyond your ability and reach, but sometimes dreams can come true. Mine did.

stranger in a strange land

ghost of the navigator

~ Mentally Yours ~

"I never went to college
I dont have a degree
Lets say I went to nite school
I learned all I know on the streets
I wasnt born a rich man
I aint got no pedigree
The sweat on this old collar
Thats my Ph.D."
In life, there are things that most people take for granted, but not for me but everyone has their stories.
My earthly pleasures are many but two more evil ones and the milestones are -
1979 - became a lifelong Arsenal fan because its the choice of either supporting the Gunners or The Red Devils and "as a young boy chasing dragons", devils are bad and the cannon looks pretty. Anyway, you can change your life, but you cant change your team. 1983 - listened to Iron Maiden's Piece Of Mind tape and the rest is a glorious history..
2008 - Pathetic and embarassing but thats the truth, I only got to see Maiden live in Perth for the first time in my life with my better half by my side. It means a lot to me. Fast forward to 2011, they played Singapore for their long suffering fans in South East Asia. I also managed to backpack to Australia to catch them again in a few places.
So not bad really, for a fan born in the ass of the world as far as being a Maiden fan is concerned.

Let me take you far away, You'd like a holiday..

Once in a blue moon and if we can save up a bit, we take the chance to get away out of Malaysia and Singapore and go to another place, and these are our adventures. Click Krabi's bamboo island beach above or check on the *labels section for the specific places. AND NOPE THAT IS NOT ME ABOVE LOL!!! I just like this photo...